Basic Focaccia for #TwelveLoaves

Basic focaccia is an excellent place to start for those of us who enjoy making bread at home. By definition, focaccia is an Italian flatbread made with olive oil and often with herbs. This basic recipe can grow in many directions such that you can customize your focaccia to suit your tastes and ingredients. An added benefit of this particular recipe that I found on Food Network is that the bread can be made over the course of an afternoon. There are two periods of resting and rising for the dough– each for an hour– and the actual active time in making this focaccia is brief in comparison.

I decided at lunchtime that this would be a nice appetizer to share with friends at dinnertime and was able share it only a few hours later. The smell of freshly baked bread is a welcome way to start an evening with friends; eating this focaccia with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar set the tone for a relaxed night of good food and great company.

Welcome to #TwelveLoaves May where the group is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Led by Lora at Cake Duchess, this baking group bakes along a theme each month and shares the joy and challenges of baking breads at home. This month the theme is open and welcome to all who bake bread– “make-what-you-love” is the goal and we hope you will join us this month.

Yield: 9 by 13 focaccia

Basic Focaccia

This may become your favorite bread recipe to make at home-- easy and the results are great every time!

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Additional Time2 hours

Total Time2 hours50 minutes

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups warm water

1 package active dry yeast

1 Tablespoon sugar

5 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 teaspoon sea salt

4 Tablespoons of fresh rosemary, chopped (my addition)

Instructions

In a small bowl combine the water, yeast and sugar. Mix it gently and allow it to sit for about five minutes. When the yeast starts to foam slightly you can move on to the next step.

I used a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment to make this focaccia. Add the yeast mixture to the flour, salt and 1/2 cup olive oil. Mix on low until combined then on medium low for a few minutes until the dough comes together. If it is too sticky add a few more Tablespoons of flour.

Form the dough into a ball and place it in a greased glass bowl. Turn the dough a few times so that it is coated on all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap coated in baking spray. Let the dough rise for an hour or until it doubles in size.

Coat a baking sheet pan with the remaining 1/2 cup of oil. yes, this is a lot of oil. Go with it. Spread the dough into a rectangle and place it in the olive oil. Then turn the dough over and coat the second side as well. Use your fingers (actually knuckles work best) to poke indentations all over the dough. This step gives focaccia its familiar texture. Sprinkle the sea salt and the rosemary on the top of the bread. I covered the dough loosely with plastic wrap covered with baking spray. Let it rise for about an hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Drizzle the dough with a bit more olive oil and then bake for 30 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

This is my favorite way to prepare focaccia and yours looks fantastic. I think it’s one of the main reasons I grow rosemary each year…which BTW I’ve already planted in pots on my friends porch. And covered. Again. I know last spring was dry; guess this year is trying to make up for it huh?

The only herb that never lets me down is my rosemary (and my basil is doing pretty good;)Such a gorgeous focaccia, Holly. Fluffy and lovely and I’d love a taste now for dessert. Thank you for baking with our group.

When we lived in Bermuda there was a hotel that had hedge of rosemary that stretched around the property. The smell was wonderful and I’ve always had a fondness for baking with it since then. Thanks for encouraging us all to bake each month. I always enjoy it!

I am so envious of your baking skills! It turned out perfect. 🙂 Whenever I go to a restaurant that serves focaccia, I always fill up on it before the meal and I don’t have room for anything else. I love dipping it in olive oil!

Thanks, Kiersten! To be honest, this focaccia doesn’t take much baking skill at all– it can be made in an afternoon. just add the herbs you have on hand and you’ll have a beautiful bread in no time at all.